First Running Race in over 25 years

Yesterday I completed my first running race in over 25 years. It was the Fremantle 5K Fun Run. The last run I did was the Perth City to Surf, so it was nice to return to Western Australia for this milestone.

I am in Western Australia to catch up with old friends. I attended an Old Boy's reunion on Friday night and on Saturday night, a friend's birthday drinks. So I wasn't exactly in top shape when I woke at dawn to walk the course to determine if the ground was smooth enough to run pure barefoot. It wasn't. Parts of the course were very rough and hurt to walk on, so I donned my Xero's for the race.

Although all I aimed to do was finish without stopping, I found myself trying to keep pace with the main pack and in the first kilometer actually overtook a few people. At the 2km mark my weekend indulgences started making me feel a bit queasy and I slowed down again until this feeling subsided.

I crossed the finish line in 28: 58 minutes and came 5th in my category, which I was elated with.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Do yourself a favour, grab a quiet moment, sit back and watch this hauntingly beautiful 20 minute short film (which includes some noteworthy barefoot running).

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is based on the short story by Ambrose Bierce.  Set during the American Civil War, it is the story of Peyton Farquhar, a Confederate sympathiser condemned to death by hanging from Owl Creek Bridge.

A copy of the story is here.

Thanks to the Natural Running Center for alerting me to this gem.

Merci

Just learnt that the girls at Merci, the local coffee cart on Oxford Street, Paddington, donated all of their tips last week to Amnesty!

All I can say is ... merci beaucoup!

Amnesty's Amazing Work

For anyone unsure what exactly Amnesty does, or where the money goes, this short video explains it very well.

Please help change the world.

9 Months

Tonight I had a flashback: a few years ago a friend invited me to join her on an Annandale to ANZAC Bridge circuit run. I immediately and irrefutably declined. At the time it seemed an incomprehensible challenge. I could not propel my 110 kilogram bulk to jog even a couple of kilometres. I'd be puffed just walking up a moderate hill. I was in awe of her running ability, and had lost all hope in mine.

View to Sydney Harbour Bridge from ANZAC Bridge

Tonight, I breezed around exactly the same 9.5 kilometre circuit. It has only been 9 months since I commenced running regularly. First for just a few hundred meters, then a kilometre, then two ... Now, I can knock out a 10 kilometre run after work and barely break a sweat. It feels so easy. This, I thought to myself, is pretty damn amazing.

And what a pleasure running is, on so many levels. The feeling of lightness and springiness in my body. Being out in the crisp winter night's air. The view of the city lights reflected onto the black, mirror-smooth water. The energy pulsing through my veins. The Who Live at Leeds pulsing through my ear buds.

Thank you running. I feel reborn.